UCD Core Comp I, Sec. 009 - Fall 2011: October 2011

Guidelines to Reaching Adulthood

Throughout time many individuals compare and contrast with one another of what they believe an adolescent versus an adult is and question where the transitioning point is between the two. Some consider any physical and emotional growth, as well as overall maturity in accepting consequences for their actions, as huge factors contained in the adulthood category. However, according to adolescent psychologist Julie A. Graber these processes occur during the developmental stage of adolescence or emerging adulthood (Yelland & Daley, 294). Adulthood is the cross point in someone’s life where they are no longer viewed as an adolescent because their hormonal components have become more stable, they can regulate their emotions, can provide care for another person and be financially independent.

Hormone production that changes body type, moods and behaviors during adolescence is stabilized as one grows older into adulthood. Typically during adolescence, a youngster’s hormone production has just begun where they reach a point of menarche, where a girl usually begins her period and produces more of the estrogen hormone while the testosterone hormone dominates for males (Buchanan et.al, 69). With the introduction of new hormones comes with a variation of moods in behaviors (Buchanan et.al, 69). However, as one becomes consistent with the body changes and variations of psychological processes they have adapted into the stage of adulthood. Biologically the overall production of the FSH and LH hormones contained in both male and female bodies become adaptable where psychologically they are still being affected, however it is not being over stimulated as it was during the beginning stage of early adolescence (Buchanan et.al, 70). As well as, it is not difficult for the adult to adjust to bodily patterns they are used to and more aware of, in comparison to that of a teenager who is not used to these new changes. Therefore as the LH and FSH hormones are being consistency produced in an individual’s body it is easier for any individual to get used to these particular body processes and outcomes over time into adulthood, where they slow down.

With a contribution of adulthood hormone stability comes with the capability for adults to regulate their emotions. Emotional regulation during adulthood can be recognized as the point where one can consciously or unconsciously strategize to increase, decrease or maintain more components of an emotional response (Gross, 95). For example, while driving on the highway some individuals who get cut off when others are attempting to merge over towards their exit, would begin flipping off and freaking out on these other individuals on the highway. Usually anyone can watch these individuals honk their horns, flip everyone off and begin to scream profanity, while anyone would visually witness them not regulating any of their emotions and that they were expressing themselves irrationally. However, as age progresses and as experiences only grow throughout time, emotion regulation of these particular “stressful” events increase and are not portrayed as vocally and physically; however from time to time they still can occur (Gross, 102). Also, meaning as one grows up into adulthood, they are better at maintaining and controlling their actions and words. Usually thinking twice, before making those “questionable” outbursts or performing those “questionable” actions occur because the consequences only become more extreme the older one gets. The acceptance of one’s consequences for their actions is only one small step into adulthood that is a large component of emotional regulation that can only be learned through the mistakes of adolescence, which can be beneficial as one reaches adulthood.

Besides regulating emotions and having a hormonal equilibrium, adulthood is mostly represented in the American society for when someone can provide care for another person, whether it is through marriage, parenting legally bound or not, or helping the elderly. Throughout the stages of adolescence the development of intimate relationships are more relevant. Where large cliques usually come down to a small group of friends and more affectionate relationships begin. Once you have accepted responsibility for yourself, then accepting responsibility for others can becomes a possibility. Throughout marriage if one person is affected then the other partner is too, making them both in the end have to take care of one another. As an established partnership throughout time, many individuals take the next step and develop a family and not only have to provide care for one another, but their children as well. The acceptance and building block of life in not just taking care of yourself, but others is a large characteristic of adulthood. Everyone brings up the question that is the elderly adults too, even though some are not capable of taking caring of themselves? According to Graber from earlier, that is a different developmental stage after adulthood, as well as if they were once hormonal balanced, can still regulate emotions and have decent bank account then they did establish adulthood throughout their lifetime.

Being financially independent to the majority of Americans is known as what an adult should be. That when an adolescent is done relying on their parents for college payments, groceries, insurance debts, and overall just when their parents release the economic leash, is the ultimate stepping point into adulthood. Without any reliability on parents or other individuals is a stepping stone into own individuality, self-efficacy and reliance, which just strengthens character as well as responsibility.

Without the components of hormonal stability, being capable to regulate emotions, responsibility to provide care for another person and to be financially independent/stable it would be difficult for any individual to label themselves as an adult. Without being biologically developed to the extent where hormones are being consistently produced, in a balanced proportion throughout time it would be difficult to regulate emotions. By regulating everyday emotions that stir up in many unknown circumstances, someone can approach both good and bad situations effectively with not only the right mind set, but more society approved behavior. With a balance both physically and mentally, it makes it easier for adults to be a role model for others in society who need guidance in the “adulthood direction.” Also, adults become more capable to support others when they are capable of accepting and supporting themselves. Making it easier for them to provide care for their significant others, children, the elderly and other possible people. Having others rely on someone and being capable in providing care for others than oneself would make being financially stable/independent a large likelihood. By not having your own financial stability it would make the other components of hormonal consistency, emotional regulation and taking care of others, not a close possibility into adulthood.

Work Cited

Buchanan, Christy M., Jacquelynne S. Eccles, and Jill B. Becker. Are adolescents the victims of raging hormones? Evidence for activation effects of hormones on moods and behavior at adolescence. Psychological Bulletin 111.1 (1992): 62-107. PsycARTICLES. EBSCO. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.

Donoghue, Christopher, and Peter J. Stein. Diversity in adult experiences and criteria for adulthood among college students. College Student Journal 41.4 (2007): 831-842. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.

Gross, J. (2001) Emotion Regulation in Adulthood: Timing is everything (52:83-110). Annu. Rev. Psychol. Stanford, CA.: Stanford University, Department of Psychology.

Yelland, I., & Daley, D. (2009). Expressed emotion in children. Child: Care, Health and Development, 35(4), 568-577. doi:10.1111/j.1365- 2214.2009.00958.x.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=adulthood&view=detail&id=DF2D8515C3A573CABE50A96BAF993A80C2D208D7&first=31&FORM=IDFRIR

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=financially+stable&view=detail&id=BCF3E7A723DD8E13C616961F4526CEE671536B32&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR

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UCD Core Comp I, Sec. 009 - Fall 2011

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Robert Holmes- Success

Extremists-katie Stangby

Adulthood- Kelsey Schuler

Christian Teske- Freedom